TOANO, Va., Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL), the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2013, as well as its updated outlook for 2014.

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Fourth Quarter Results

Net sales increased $47.8 million, or 22.7%, to $258.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 from $210.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Comparable store net sales increased 15.6% for the quarter, driven by an 8.6% increase in the number of customers invoiced and a 7.0% increase in the average sale. Non-comparable store net sales increased $14.9 million over the prior year period. As of December 31, 2013, the Company operated 318 stores, including 11 stores opened during the fourth quarter of 2013, for a total of 30 stores opened during the year. The Company also remodeled 22 existing stores during the year.

Gross margin was 40.8% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to 39.1% in the fourth quarter of 2012. The increase in gross margin reflects generally lower net product costs partially offset by higher transportation and other costs. Transportation costs in the fourth quarter of 2013 included certain costs related to the new West Coast distribution center, which is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2014.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased as a percentage of net sales to 27.6% for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to 27.4% for the fourth quarter of 2012. SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2013 included costs of approximately $1.7 million, primarily related to the start-up of the West Coast distribution center and certain incremental legal and professional fees.

Operating margin increased 170 basis points to 13.3% in the fourth quarter of 2013, from 11.6% in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Net income increased 50.6% to $20.8 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2013 from $13.8 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of the prior year. The Company's effective tax rate was 39.3% for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to an effective tax rate of 43.7% in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2013 totaled $80.6 million compared with $64.2 million at December 31, 2012.

Robert M. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We achieved record highs for net sales and operating margin in the fourth quarter as we continued to gain share in a highly fragmented market. We gained further traction in our key, multi-year strategic initiatives while continuing to deliver value and legendary service to each customer. Customer demand was inconsistent during the quarter, with certain regions of the country periodically impacted by difficult weather conditions. Nevertheless, our store team, with support across the organization, delivered an unprecedented level of individualized customer service and focus on operating results. I could not be more proud of this team as we crossed the milestone of $1.0 billion in annual net sales in 2013, and the results we have achieved throughout the year are a direct reflection of the commitment and efforts of our team. This was a year of significant accomplishments by our team, and we believe that our intense focus, unified vision and coordinated efforts set the foundation for an exciting 2014."

Full Year Results

Net sales increased 23.0% to $1.0 billion in 2013 from $813.3 million in 2012, as comparable store net sales increased 15.8%, or $128.2 million, and non-comparable store net sales increased $58.7 million.

Gross margin increased to 41.1% in 2013 compared to 38.0% in the prior year. SG&A expenses increased as a percentage of net sales to 28.5% in 2013, compared to 28.3% in 2012.

Operating margin increased 300 basis points to 12.6% in 2013 from 9.6% in 2012.

Net income increased 64.4% to $77.4 million, or $2.77 per diluted share, in 2013 compared to $47.1 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, in the prior year. The Company's effective tax rate was 38.8% for 2013 compared to an effective tax rate of 40.0% in 2012.

Share Repurchase Program

Lumber Liquidators also announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional $50 million of its common stock. The repurchases will be subject to market conditions and other factors and will be made from time to time through open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions.

Company Outlook

In 2014, as previously announced, the Company expects to achieve the following for the full year:


    --  Net sales in the range of $1.15 billion to $1.20 billion.
    --  Comparable store net sales increasing in the high single to low-double
        digits.
    --  The opening of a total of 30 to 40 new store locations and remodeling of
        a total of 25 to 35 existing stores, all in the store of the future
        format.
    --  Capital expenditures between $80 million and $90 million, including up
        to $50 million for supply chain investments.
    --  De-leverage of SG&A expenses primarily related to store base expansion,
        advertising expenses increasing at a rate greater than net sales, the
        opening and continuing operation of the West Coast distribution center
        and higher than normal legal and professional fees.
    --  Operating margin expansion to a range of 13.0% to 13.8%.
    --  Earnings per diluted share in the range of approximately $3.25 to $3.60,
        based on a diluted share count of approximately 28.1 million shares,
        which is exclusive of any future impact of the stock repurchase program.

Mr. Lynch concluded, "We are looking forward to another great year as we continue to roll out the store of the future format to both new and existing stores and implement enhancements to our supply chain. To support our continuing growth, our planned capital investment in 2014 will be the largest in our history. We are pleased that we can make this investment in our business while also returning value to our long-term shareholders through our expanded share repurchase authorization. The first quarter of 2014 to date has been disrupted by unseasonably harsh weather across much of the country, but the important spring remodeling season is in front of us. Our team is focused to deliver growth this year, and our industry-leading value proposition is stronger than ever. We continue to invest in the quality of an expanding assortment of products more readily available to meet our customers' needs. Most important is our commitment and continuing investment in our people. Led by our flooring experts, we plan to reach an even broader customer base and capture additional share to drive long-term growth and operating margin expansion in 2014 and for years to come."

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company plans to host a conference call and audio webcast today, February 19, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference may be accessed by dialing (877) 407-9039 or (201) 689-8470. A replay will be available approximately two hours after the call ends through February 26, 2014 and may be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 and entering pin number 13575534. The live conference call and replay may also be accessed via audio webcast at the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.lumberliquidators.com.

KeyBanc Consumer Conference

The Company today also announced that Mr. Lynch and Daniel E. Terrell, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the KeyBanc's Consumer Conference in New York City on February 26, 2014. Mr. Lynch and Mr. Terrell will be meeting with investors throughout the day.

About Lumber Liquidators

In its 20th year and with more than 320 locations, Lumber Liquidators is North America's largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring. The Company features more than 340 top quality flooring varieties, including solid and engineered hardwood, bamboo, cork, laminate and resilient vinyl. Additionally, Lumber Liquidators provides a wide selection of flooring enhancements and accessories to complement, install and maintain your new floor. Every location is staffed with flooring experts who can provide advice and useful information about Lumber Liquidators' low priced product, much of which is in-stock and ready for delivery.

With premier brands including Bellawood Prefinished Hardwood and Morning Star Bamboo, Lumber Liquidators' flooring is often featured on popular television shows such as HGTV's Dream Home and This Old House.

For more information, please visit www.LumberLiquidators.com or call 1.800.HARDWOOD. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about its corporate giving program at LayItForward.LumberLiquidators.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and accompanying financial tables may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on currently available information as of the date of such statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements which speak only as of their respective dates, except as may be required under the federal securities laws. Information regarding these additional risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information contact:

Lumber Liquidators Investor Relations
Ashleigh McDermott
Tel: 757.566.7512

(Tables Follow)


           Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

              Consolidated Balance Sheets

           (in thousands, except share data)


                                            December 31,
                                            ------------

                                            2013        2012
                                            ----        ----

    Assets

    Current Assets:

    Cash and Cash Equivalents            $80,634     $64,167

    Merchandise Inventories              252,428     206,704

    Prepaid Expenses                       6,229       5,168

    Other Current Assets                  12,916      12,106
                                          ------      ------


    Total Current Assets                 352,207     288,145

    Property and Equipment, net           65,947      47,764

    Goodwill                               9,693       9,693

    Other Assets                           1,712       1,785
                                           -----       -----


    Total Assets                        $429,559    $347,387
                                        ========    ========


    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Current Liabilities:

    Accounts Payable                     $56,327     $55,110

    Customer Deposits and Store
     Credits                              22,377      25,747

    Accrued Compensation                  11,709       7,969

    Sales and Income Tax Liabilities       4,878       4,314

    Other Current Liabilities             11,709       7,887
                                          ------       -----


    Total Current Liabilities            107,000     101,027


    Deferred Rent                          4,169       3,653

    Deferred Tax Liability                 9,061       8,166


    Stockholders' Equity:

    Common Stock ($0.001 par value;
     35,000,000 authorized;
     27,557,570 and 27,214,144
     outstanding, respectively)               30          29

    Treasury Stock, at cost
     (2,133,307 and 1,719,706
     shares, respectively)               (85,382)    (50,552)

    Additional Capital                   164,581     131,724

    Retained Earnings                    230,662     153,267

    Accumulated Other Comprehensive
     (Loss) Income                          (562)         73
                                            ----         ---


    Total Stockholders' Equity           309,329     234,541
                                         -------     -------


    Total Liabilities and
     Stockholders' Equity               $429,559    $347,387
                                        ========    ========




                     Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

                     Consolidated Statements of Income

          (in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)


                                       Three Months Ended            Year Ended

                                          December 31,              December 31,
                                        ------------            ------------

                                          2013        2012        2013        2012
                                          ----        ----        ----        ----

                                         (unaudited)

    Net
     Sales                            $258,433    $210,655  $1,000,240    $813,327

    Cost
     of
     Sales                             152,902     128,373     589,257     504,542
                                       -------     -------     -------     -------


    Gross
     Profit                            105,531      82,282     410,983     308,785


     Selling,
     General
     and
     Administrative
     Expenses                           71,270      57,800     284,960     230,439
                                        ------      ------     -------     -------


     Operating
     Income                             34,261      24,482     126,023      78,346


     Interest
     and
     Other
     Income,
     net                                   (18)        (40)       (442)       (140)
                                           ---         ---        ----        ----


     Income
     Before
     Income
     Taxes                              34,279      24,522     126,465      78,486


     Provision
     for
     Income
     Taxes                              13,484      10,714      49,070      31,422
                                        ------      ------      ------      ------


    Net
     Income                            $20,795     $13,808     $77,395     $47,064
                                       =======     =======     =======     =======


    Net
     Income
     per
     Common
     Share-
     Basic                               $0.75       $0.51       $2.82       $1.71
                                         =====       =====       =====       =====


    Net
     Income
     per
     Common
     Share-
     Diluted                             $0.74       $0.50       $2.77       $1.68
                                         =====       =====       =====       =====


    Weighted Average Common Shares
     Outstanding:

    Basic                           27,592,651  27,240,235  27,484,790  27,448,333

    Diluted                         27,940,706  27,845,214  27,914,322  28,031,453




         Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                  (in thousands)


                                     Year Ended December
                                             31,
                                   --------------------

                                        2013        2012
                                        ----        ----

    Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    Net Income                       $77,395     $47,064

    Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash
     Provided by Operating Activities:

    Depreciation and
     Amortization                     11,666       9,957

    Deferred Income Taxes               (846)        160

    Stock-Based Compensation
     Expense                           5,974       3,997

    Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:

    Merchandise Inventories          (45,834)    (42,712)

    Accounts Payable                     (15)     16,756

    Customer Deposits and Store
     Credits                          (3,354)      7,626

    Prepaid Expenses and Other
     Current Assets                     (257)     (2,835)

    Other Assets and Liabilities       8,271       7,256
                                       -----       -----


    Net Cash Provided by
     Operating Activities             53,000      47,269


    Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    Purchases of Property and
     Equipment                       (28,585)    (13,376)
                                     -------     -------


    Net Cash Used in Investing
     Activities                      (28,585)    (13,376)


    Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    Payments for Stock
     Repurchases                     (34,830)    (49,436)

    Proceeds from the Exercise
     of Stock Options                 10,255      10,454

    Excess Tax Benefit from
     Stock-Based Compensation         17,132       7,131
                                      ------       -----


    Net Cash Used in Financing
     Activities                       (7,443)    (31,851)
                                      ------     -------


    Effect of Exchange Rates on
     Cash and Cash Equivalents          (505)        450

    Net Increase in Cash and
     Cash Equivalents                 16,467       2,492

    Cash and Cash Equivalents,
     Beginning of Year                64,167      61,675
                                      ------      ------


    Cash and Cash Equivalents,
     End of Year                     $80,634     $64,167
                                     =======     =======




                        Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

                           Other Supporting Schedules

                                   (unaudited)


                                        Three Months Ended               Year Ended

                                           December 31,                 December 31,
                                         ------------              ------------

                                           2013         2012          2013         2012
                                           ----         ----          ----         ----

                                                  (dollars in thousands)

    Net sales                          $258,433     $210,655    $1,000,240     $813,327

         Percentage
          increase                         22.7%        20.8%         23.0%        19.3%


    Number of
     stores open at
     end of period                          318          288           318          288

    Number of
     stores opened
     in period                               11            4            30           25

                                              percentage increase (decrease)


    Average sale(1)                         7.0%         3.9%          6.6%         2.5%

    Average retail
     price per unit
     sold(2)                                3.2%         2.2%          5.7%         0.2%


    Comparable stores(3):

          Net sales                        15.6%        13.2%         15.8%        11.4%

          Customers
           invoiced4                        8.6%         9.4%          9.2%         8.9%

          Net sales of
           stores
           operating for
           13 to 36
           months                          19.2%        19.7%         21.8%        23.3%

          Net sales of
           stores
           operating for
           more than 36
           months                          14.9%        12.5%         14.9%         9.1%


    Net sales in
     markets with
     all stores
     comparable (no
     cannibalization)                      18.9%        15.6%         18.2%        13.3%

    Net sales in
     cannibalized
     markets5                              42.7%        34.5%         45.2%        33.3%

    ___________________

    1 Average sale, calculated on a total company basis, is defined as the average invoiced sale per customer, measured on a monthly
     basis and excluding transactions of less than $250 (which are generally sample orders, or add-ons or fill-ins to previous
     orders) and of more than $30,000 (which are usually contractor orders)

    2 Average retail price per unit sold is calculated on a total company basis and excludes certain non-merchandise revenue

    3 A store is generally considered comparable on the first day of the thirteenth full calendar month after opening

    4 Change in number of customers invoiced which is calculated by applying our average sale to total net sales at comparable stores

    5 A cannibalized market has at least one comparable store and one non-comparable store


    Our recent store of the
     future activity is as
     follows:


                             Three Months       Year Ended

                                 Ended         December 31,

                             December 31,                   2013

                                          2013
                                          ----

    Number of stores of the
     future at beginning of
     period                                 33                 -

    New stores of the future
     opened during the
     period                                 11                30

    Stores of the future
     remodeled during the
     period                                  8                22
                                           ---               ---


    Number of stores of the
     future at December 31                  52                52
                                           ===               ===

The significant drivers of gross margin expansion and their estimated impact compared to the prior year are as follows:


                                                                         Three Months Ended        Year Ended

                                                                            December 31,          December 31,
                                                                            ------------          ------------

                Driver                      Description                  2013     2012(1)    2013  2012(1)
                ------                      -----------                  ----      ------    ----   ------

                                                                           expansion (contraction) in basis
                                                                                      points


    Product                         Cost of acquiring the
                                    products we sell from our
                                    suppliers, including the
                                    impact of our sourcing
                                    initiatives; Changes in the
                                    mix of products sold;
                                    Changes in the average
                                    retail price per unit sold;
                                    Changes in the average
                                    retail price and related
                                    cost of services, including
                                    installation                          210         230     300      230


    Transportation                  International and domestic
                                    transportation costs,
                                    including the impact of
                                    international container
                                    rates; Customs and duty
                                    charges; Fuel and fuel
                                    surcharges; Impact of mill
                                    shipments received directly
                                    by our stores;
                                    Transportation charges from
                                    our distribution centers to
                                    our stores; Transportation
                                    charges between stores and
                                    the cost of delivery to our
                                    customers                             (10)         40      20       30


    All Other                       Investments in our quality
                                    control procedures; Warranty
                                    costs; Changes in finishing
                                    costs to produce a unit of
                                    our proprietary brands;
                                    Inventory shrink; Net costs
                                    of producing samples                  (30)         90     (10)      10


    Total Change in Gross Margin from the prior
     year                                                                 170         360     310      270
                                                                          ===         ===     ===      ===



    1 Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation

The following table sets forth components of SG&A expenses for the periods indicated, as a percentage of net sales.


                                    Three Months Ended       Year Ended

                                       December 31,         December 31,
                                       ------------         ------------

                                       2013    2012(1)    2013   2012(1)
                                       ----     ------    ----    ------

    Total SG&A
     expenses                          27.6%      27.4%   28.5%     28.3%

    Salaries,
     Commissions and
     Benefits                          11.9%      11.9%   12.1%     12.1%

    Advertising                         6.3%       6.4%    7.6%      7.2%

    Occupancy                           3.6%       3.6%    3.5%      3.7%

    Depreciation and
     Amortization                       1.2%       1.2%    1.1%      1.2%

    Stock-based
     Compensation                       0.7%       0.5%    0.6%      0.5%

    Other SG&A
     Expenses                           3.9%       3.8%    3.6%      3.6%


    1 Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation

SOURCE Lumber Liquidators